Why would capilaries die in fingertip? HELP?

May 6, 2009 by admin · 2 Comments
Filed under: Injuries 
construction tools
nova b asked:

My boyfriend started having his tip in his pointer finger go cold about 2 months ago. Then 2 or 3 weeks ago it started hurting and turning blue at random (about 4 X a day) and go back to a pretty normal color. His thumb is now the same and he’s having a hard time gripping tools (construction worker). Went to his family doctor(said he had hemmoraging in fingernails), about 1 and a half wks. ago, and he sent him to the hospital (same day) where they did some tests and an angiogram(sp?) on him. They thought it was Reynodes disease and sent him home with Dynacirc and Plavix and told him to stay out of the cold and do not use his hand for ANYthing until it’s better. Went back to family doc and doc said it wasn’t Reynodes disease (when blood tests got back) and they didn’t know what it was. That was 4 or 5 days ago. He’s been taking it easy and taking the meds. Today he tried to hammer in 7 nails and now he has red blotches (more hemmoraging?)on his palm. IT’s getting worse day by day! help

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2 Responses to “Why would capilaries die in fingertip? HELP?”
  1. rhenry501 says:
    May 8, 2009 at 10:57 am

    Raynaud’s phenomenon
    Raynaud’s phenomenon is a condition in which some areas of the body, usually the fingers or toes, have an exaggerated response to cold temperature or emotional stress. During an attack of Raynaud’s, the blood vessels in the affected areas tighten, severely limiting the flow of blood to the skin.

    Normally the body narrows (constricts) these blood vessels when the skin gets cold to help conserve body heat. Stress or exposure to cold temperatures may trigger an exaggeration of this normal body function. The fingers and hands (or, more rarely, the feet, nose, or ears) may turn pale, white, and later blue and feel cold to the touch. Sometimes fingers or toes feel numb and tingly, as if they have “fallen asleep,” or they may become painful and swollen.

    Most cases of Raynaud’s phenomenon have no known cause. However, some people may develop Raynaud’s as a result of frostbite, an injury, or a disease (such as lupus, scleroderma, atherosclerosis, or rheumatoid arthritis). Vibrations from power tools or drugs that affect blood flow (such as nicotine, caffeine, and cold medications that contain pseudoephedrine) may also trigger Raynaud’s phenomenon.

    Treatment for Raynaud’s phenomenon focuses on preventing attacks by avoiding cold, stress, and other triggers. If attempts to prevent attacks do not work, prescription medication may be helpful.

    Numbness or tingling with a finger, hand, or wrist problem
    Numbness is a complete loss of feeling when you touch your skin. It may feel like the part you touch does not belong to you.

    Tingling is a pins-and-needles feeling that occurs when your foot “falls asleep.” An occasional, slight tingling in a foot that lasts only briefly is not generally cause for concern.

    It is not unusual to wake up in the morning with numbness or tingling if you sleep on your hand. This may temporarily cut off blood flow to your hand or put pressure on a nerve. If this is the case, the feeling will come back within a minute or two. See an illustration of nerves of the hand.

    Overuse of your hands and wrists may lead to conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome and ulnar tunnel syndrome. Pressure on a nerve (median or ulnar nerve) in the wrist causes tingling, numbness, weakness, or pain in the fingers and hand.

    Numbness and tingling are more serious when:

    You have a complete loss of feeling.
    You have symptoms of decreased blood flow, such as pale, white, blue, or cold skin.
    You have muscle weakness not caused by pain.
    Symptoms don’t go away.
    Symptoms go away, but keep coming back.

  2. michalakd says:
    May 10, 2009 at 12:10 am

    Probably a little more complicated to be able to answer your question with so little information. Raynaud’s is a spasm of the blood vessels in the fingers, hands, toes, etc., and it does not cause hemorrhaging. If he is taking plavix, he may bruise easily and become more susceptible to bleeding. Let his doctor know.

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